Whitecaps get to Kershaw early, pound Loons 12-5

Top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw surrendered four walks and six runs in the second and was removed after just 1 1/3 innings of work Sunday as the Loons fell 12-5 to the West Michigan Whitecaps in a Mother’s Day matinee.

Kershaw (3-1) was tagged for a total of seven runs, all earned, in getting the loss. Kershaw took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the second, but the Whitecaps scored six times in the frame. The Loons pulled to within two runs on a two-run Josh Bell home run in the third, but would never get any closer. West Michigan (19-16) added four more runs in the fourth off reliever Michael Gardner.

Catcher James Skelton paced the Whitecaps offensively with four hits (two doubles) and three RBIs. The Loons (15-21) were led offensively by Josh Bell, who finished a triple shy of the cycle in going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Whitecaps – featuring some of the brightest prospects in the Detroit Tigers’ system, including Gorkys Hernandez and Scott Sizemore, and managed by former Tigers’ third baseman Tom Brookens – travel to Dow Diamond for games Monday and Tuesday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m.